TRAJAN’S COLUMN

Description

Essentials about Trajan’s Column in brief

Trajan’s Column is probably the most beautiful and best known of all the ancient Roman columns still standing. The column has served as a model for many other honorary and victory columns – ancient and modern – throughout its history. It was erected in 112/113 A.D. in honor of Emperor Trajan on his forum and is still in its original location. Trajan’s Column was erected on behalf of the Roman Senate, which wanted to honor the construction of Trajan’s Forum and also Trajan’s victories in Dacia (modern Romania).

The architecture of Trajan’s Column

Trajan’s Column was assembled from 29 blocks of Lunensian marble (later called Carrara marble) and weighs a total of more than 1,100 tons. From the foundation, the column reaches a height of 42 meters. This corresponds to the exact height of the hill that was previously at its location and was removed to create a free area for the construction of Trajan’s Forum. The excellent quality of the stone workmanship is evidenced by the fact that the staircase inside the column is practically even and the joints of the enormous blocks still match each other exactly. Despite numerous earthquakes, Trajan’s Column nowadays leans less than half a degree out of plumb.

The reliefs of Trajan’s Column

A band of beautifully sculpted reliefs winds around the column twenty-three times. With a length of about 200 meters, its width varies between 60 centimeters at the bottom and 120 centimeters at the top. About 2,500 sculpted figures depict the history of Trajan’s Dacian campaigns in the years between 101 – 102 AD and 105 – 106 AD. The depiction begins with the preparation of the soldiers for war and ends with the expulsion of the Dacians from their homeland. The reliefs were not always in plain white. Originally they were gilded and colorfully painted, like many ancient Roman monuments.

The depictions provide interesting information about the clothing and weapons in the 2nd century. The pictorial report tells about the life of soldiers, war customs, landscapes and much more. Every detail is accurately executed. Here is also the oldest evidence of a tie. To protect themselves against the cold and chafing armor, soldiers knotted a scarf around their necks. From the fashion-conscious youngsters in Rome, the neck warmer was adopted, who wanted to be “in” wore a tie.

The statue of Trajan’s Column

Originally, the column was crowned by a statue of an eagle, but after Trajan’s death it was replaced by a six-meter-high statue of the emperor himself. His ashes – as well as those of his wife Plotina – were buried in the foundation of the column. In 1587 the statue was replaced again, this time by one of St. Peter.

The interior of Trajan’s Column

Trajan’s Column is hollow inside. A spiral staircase leads up 185 steps to the platform, where the ancient visitor had a magnificent view over the surrounding Trajan’s Forum. Stairs had to have an odd number of steps for the Romans on principle, because they were extremely superstitious. One had to start a staircase with the right foot and leave it with the right foot, which was only possible with an odd number of steps.

The legends of Trajan’s Column

There are several legends about the preservation of Trajan’s Column. For example, the column was allegedly saved from demolition by Pope Gregory the Great (590 – 604). He was so moved by a relief depiction of Trajan helping the mother of a dead soldier that he prayed to God to deliver Trajan’s soul from hell. God then told the pope that Trajan’s soul had been redeemed. According to another legend, Trajan’s tongue was also still intact when his ashes were dug up. The tongue was an indication of his redemption from hell. As a result, the area around the column was canonized, thus saving the column from demolition.